Last week the Sharks NRL players dropped by the Skillz4me Christmas event, while today it was Civic Disability Services at Caringbah, Sutherland Hospital and The Family Co headquarters as a part of the Sharks Have Heart annual Christmas Blitz.
At Civic Disability Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey and Ronaldo Mulitalo were amongst a group to interact and spread some Christmas cheer with the workers and staff, at Sutherland Hospital Aiden Tolman, Will Kennedy, newcomer Matt Ikuvalu and a number of teammates visited the wards at Sutherland Hospital, while Family Co ambassador and Sharks skipper Wade Graham was joined by Andrew Fifita, Braden Hamlin-Uele and others at the Family Co’s Jannali head office to hand out presents and to spend some time with the kids.
It was a positive end to a difficult Covid-affected year for Sharks Have Heart and the Club’s community programs, with the players enjoying the experience and all concerned embracing the appearance of the Sharks stars at the various venues.
The response to the player visit was an enthusiastic one at Civic Disability, an organisation which supports individuals with disability to exercise choice and control, achieve their goals, and be active members of the community.
Civic provide support in creating moments that matter, breaking down barriers and striving for a more inclusive society.
Players met and greeted the workers and staff, wishing them a merry Christmas, taking a tour of the facility and lending a helping out on the production lines. They also presented a signed and framed Sharks jersey to Civic to display at their Caringbah base.
At the Family Co, presents provided by the Kareela Ladies Golf, collected through a toy drive on behalf of Sharks Have Heart were handed out to the children who were certainly happy and grateful to receive.
The Family Co, located in the Sutherland Shire, provide and facilitate services for families falling under the pillars of creating safe and positive communities where women, children, youth and families can build capacity to take on life’s challenges and realise their best futures.
They offer child, youth, family and parenting support, domestic and family violence support, as well as education and training.
While at Sutherland Hospital, the Sharks players wished patients a Merry Christmas and thanked staff for their efforts throughout the year as emergency workers during the immense challenges of the ongoing Covid pandemic.
And last week it was Skillz4Me, where players handed out drink bottles and flags, interacted with the children and took part in some of the games and activities at the end of year Christmas event.
The visit weas a continuation of their support of SKillz4Me, the Sharks Have Heart-backed program for children on the Autism Spectrum or with additional needs, with Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien, Jensen Taumoepeau and Franklin Pele, along with newcomers Jayden Berrell and Lachlan Miller getting amongst the fun.